Thursday, January 27, 2011

Everyone knows that Mitt Romney...

...and Tim Pawlenty are running for president in 2012. (Although Pawlenty may actually be running for running mate and/or to position himself for 2016.) But what about the rest of the field? Times a wastin'. Here are my predictions:

Won't run: Sarah Palin and Mike Huckabee. They're both making too much money, are both long-shots, and they know it.

Don't be fooled by Palin -- she's as dumb as a fox. The former governor is milking her fame for all its worth. She's far too thin-skinned (and ill-prepared) for a White House run. Palin will be much happier as the GOP kingmaker. (But her sell-by date is November, 2012; after that she'll fade quickly into oblivion.)

As for Huck, he's already been there, done that. 2008 was a long slog for him and he doesn't seem to have the fire in the belly for another run. His campaign manager from 2008, Chip Saltsman, is working for somebody else and Huck's building a trophy house in Florida. After two years of raising money, eating rubber chicken and sleeping on couches in Iowa, all the Arkansas governor ended up with was a (lucrative) gig on Fox. I'll say he stays there.

Will probably run, but who cares?: Haley Barbour, Newt Gingrich and Rick Santorum.

Will probably run to position himself for 2016 (besides Pawlenty): Mitch Daniels and John Thune.

Will wait for 2016 (good idea): Jeb Bush, Chris Christie, Mike Pence, Bobby Jindal and Jon Huntsman.

May run for the attention (and to position herself for a U. S. Senate race against Amy Klobuchar): Michele Bachman.

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